Barton, Sir Derek (1918-1998), an English chemist, shared the 1969 Nobel Prize for chemistry with the Norwegian scientist Odd Hassel. Both scientists carried out research into conformational analysis, the study of the three-dimensional geometric shape of complex molecules.
In 1949 and 1950, Barton wrote an important paper on the relationship between a molecule’s conformation (geometric shape) and its tendency to react with other chemicals. He later used conformational analysis to determine the geometric structure of many naturally occurring molecules. He also investigated the structure of steroids—a group of chemical compounds, including many hormones, that play key roles in bodily processes—and similar compounds (see Steroid ). Conformational analysis has since proved to be a useful technique in many fields of biochemistry.
By the 1960’s, Barton had started to research biosynthesis, the combining of biochemical compounds to duplicate substances found in nature (see Biosynthesis ). One particular reaction, the Barton reaction, simplified the process of synthesizing aldosterone. This chemical reaction is one of five named in his honor. Aldosterone is a hormone that plays an important part in the body’s chemical processes.
Derek Harold Richard Barton was born on Sept. 8, 1918, in Gravesend, Kent, England. He studied at Imperial College, part of the University of London, receiving a doctorate in organic chemistry in 1942 and a D.Sc. in 1949. He taught at several universities in the United Kingdom, France, and the United States. He received a knighthood in 1972. Barton died on March 16, 1998.
See Hassel, Odd .
